If now feels like the right time to make the transition into your next leadership role, there are a number of ways an executive search company can help. Here we’ll guide you through the process.

Firstly though, what is an executive search company?

An executive search company (informally known as headhunting, or a headhunter) is a type of professional service organisation or individual that specialises in recruiting senior executives and other specialist professionals (Data Compliance Officers, SEO Technicians, Engineers) for their client companies in various industries. Executive search agents/professionals typically have a wide range of personal contacts in their industry or field of specialty; detailed, specific knowledge of the area; and typically operate at the most senior level of executive positions. Executive search professionals are also involved throughout the hiring process, conducting detailed interviews and presenting candidates to clients selectively, when they feel the candidate meets all stated requirements and would fit into the culture of the hiring company. Executive search firms typically have long-lasting relationships with clients spanning many years, and in such cases the suitability of candidates is paramount. It is also important that such firms operate with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.

When corporate entities elect to use an outside executive search company, it is usually because they lack the internal research resources, professional networks, or evaluative skills to properly recruit for themselves. Using an outside executive search company also allows the corporate entity the freedom of recruiting from competitors without doing so directly, and the ability to choose among candidates that would not be available through internal or passive sourcing methodologies. Executive search companies tend to operate both nationally and internationally. Many specialise in a particular business industry sector. The contractual relationship between the client and the executive search company falls into two broad categories: contingent and retained. Contingent recruiters are paid only upon the successful completion of the “search assignment.” Retained recruiters are paid for the process, typically earning a recruiting fee in three stages based on the anticipated compensation of the executive.

Why reach out to an Executive Search Company?

Lining up your next executive job can take a lot of time and effort, despite your level of experience and expertise. Whilst you may already be applying for executive vacancies on specialist job boards like CEO Jobs, reaching out to an executive search company can unlock a wealth of confidential and unadvertised opportunities both at home and abroad.

Executive search companies are paid handsomely to place executives with hiring companies and to manage the entire selection and recruitment process, calling upon their expertise and lengthy list of connections. An executive search company is usually the first place a hiring company goes to when seeking their next c-level executive. By nature, an executive search company is normally the first to know about the next big opportunity.

Executive Search Companies will contact me first though, right?

If you’ve already made your availability publicly known, on professional networks such as LinkedIn for example, it’s likely that before long, a headhunter or Executive search professional will be in contact. Even if you haven’t made your availability known, you may still be contacted by a recruiter who is interested in what you have planned next.

However, this is all circumstantial and left to chance.

Our best advice is to get the ball rolling by reaching out to Executive search companies, by sharing with them your updated CV and a synopsis of what roles you are looking for next. By reaching out to an executive search company you are greatly increasing your chances of landing your next opportunity. If time is of the essence, then making your availability known to leading executive search companies will speed up the process too.

Top Executive Search Companies to Reach out to

Rather than trawling the internet or searching for connections on LinkedIn, here we’ve listed the top executive search companies to reach out to (with contact details).